Today Senator Jane Cordy moved second reading in the Senate of Bill S-204, An Act to Establish a National Strategy for Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) in MS patients.

“Studies are beginning to show that improving blood flow through an angioplasty procedure in MS patients with CCSVI can produce drastic improvements to patients’ MS symptoms.” said Senator Cordy. “Clinical trials for treatment to CCSVI in Multiple Sclerosis patients are underway in many countries around the world yet Canadians are still waiting for clinical trials to begin. We need ‘Made in Canada’ scientific medical evidence.”

Bill S-204 calls on the Health Minister to convene a conference with the provincial and territorial ministers responsible for health for the purpose of establishing a national strategy for CCSVI. The national strategy is to include clinical trials for CCSVI treatment in MS patients to begin in a timely manner.

Liberal MP Dr. Kirsty Duncan is leading the charge in Parliament fighting for clinical trials for those with MS. On September 21st, she introduced a similar bill in the House of Commons. Dr. Duncan has worked closely with those directly affected by MS and has been instrumental in the drafting of Bill S-204.

On June 29th, the Minister of Health announced that Canada would begin clinical trials. This news was very encouraging but in the three months since the announcement there has been no further information. Too many questions are left unanswered. The aim of this Bill is to start the process moving now.

We are all hopeful that with the passage of Bill S-204, a national strategy can finally be established and that clinical trials for CCSVI treatment in MS patients can begin in the very near future.